jelly suggests: Reading Open Air Shakespeare, Henry IV Part One

“If all the year were playing holidays,
To sport would be as tedious as to work”

Staged in the beautifully restored gardens of Caversham Court, nestling on the banks of the River Thames, close to Caversham Bridge and Reading town centre. Progress Theatre welcomes you to the production of William Shakespeare’s “Henry IV Part One,” from Thursday 12th to Saturday 21st July 2012.

Since 1995 Progress Theatre has staged the “Reading Open Air Shakespeare,” and fittingly, after beginning with one of Shakespeare’s great tetralogy series, “Henry V;” 2012 sees the return to the instalment with “Henry IV Part 1,”

Directed by Dan Clarke promises that this Shakespearean play will be “packed full of music, action and laughter to go with the great speeches and top quality performances.”

“Henry IV Part 1” depicts the strained relationship between King Henry IV and his son, Hal.The King also faces a rebellion from the Welsh, Scots and the noblemen of the north. We are drawn into Hal’s transition from a drunken, tavern dwelling soul, to become the Prince his father always wanted.The play culminates in titanic battle in which Hal is centrepiece to. The audience will no doubt be left wanting more as the play’s ending rivals that of any modern day film classics.

History, comedy and tragedy roll into one in this Shakespearean masterpiece. The battle that will shape Britain is about to begin…

Previous Reading Open Air productions from Progress Theatre have been met with fantastic audience and media reviews and this year should prove no different.

Have a picnic and a drink before the show!

The fully licensed bar is open from 7pm and during the interval with the gardens open for evening performances at 6.30pm

Tickets are £15 (£13 concessions) and are available in advance from Reading Arts Box Office (booking fee applies):